Silo unloaders



Oct. 3, 1961 Filed 001;. 16, 1959 G. R. CHAPMAN SILO UNLOADERS 3 Sheets-Sheet l Oct 3, 1961 G. R. CHAPMAN 3,002,790

sILo UNLOADERS Filed Oct. 16, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Unite States Patent r SlLO UNLOADERS George Roland Chapman, Stalord Road, Palmyra, N.Y.

Filed Oct. 16, 1959, Ser. No. 846,915

8 Claims. (Cl. 302-37) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in silo unloaders, and in particular the invention concerns itself with the discharge of silage by the unloader through an opening or openings in the lateral wall of the silo.

As such, the invention is well adapted for use in conjunction with unloaders of the type disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,788,247, dated April 9, 1957, and in `my co-pending patent application SerialNo. 641,615, iiled February 21,` 1957, although it is to be understood that the use of the present invention is by no means limited thereto and that the invention may be used generally with unloaders of such type. Theseunloaders are `adapted to rest upon and operatively engage silage in `a` silo,`re volving or travelling in a circular path about the vertical axis of theV silo and progressively becoming lowered in the silo as the unloading procedure continues. The silage is engaged and delivered by a scraper conveyor to a blower having its outlet in communication with a curved, upwardly extending duct, through which the silage is discharged through one of the usual openings in the lateral wall of the silo. A rotatable connection is provided between the blower and the discharge duct so that the latter may remain oriented toward the silo opening during the revolving movement of the unloader, as is customary in the art. TheY principal object of the present invention is to provide improved guide means for the discharge duct so that the same remains properly oriented toward the silo opening, not only during the revolving movement of the unloader, but also during its lowering movement in the silo.

Moreover, in instances where the outlet of the blower is horizontally offset from the vertical axis of the silo so that thelower end of the duct connected thereto travels in a circular path about the center of the silo, the guide means in accordance with the invention effectively compensates for movement of the duct toward and away from the silo opening and retains the duct in proper orientation.

Some of the advantages of the invention reside in its simplicity of construction, eicient and dependable operation, and in its adaptability to economical manufacture and installation. i

With the foregoing more important objects and `features inview and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention will be understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein. like characters of reference are used to designate like parts, and wherein: Y FIGURE l is a side elevational view in fragmentary form, showing the `guide means in accordance with the invention applied to a silage unloader with a portion of the silo wall shown in vertical section and illustrating by full lines and by dotted lines, two different horizontally spacedpositions of the mechanism;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary top plan View of the subject shown in full lines in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view, similar to that shown in FIGURE l, but illustrating the mechanism in a relatively lowered position; FIGURE 4 is a sectional detail on an enlarged scale, taken substantially in the plane of the line 4-4 in FIG- URE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view on'an enlarged scale, showing the attachment of the duct to the blower;

Patented Oct. 3, 1961 Nce FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the subject shown in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary elevational view, taken in the direction of the arrow 7 in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 8-8 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary side elevational View of a slightly modified form of the invention.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the general reference numeral 10 designates a silage unloader of the general type disclosed, for example, in my aforementioned prior patent and co-pending application, the same being adapted` to rest upon silage in a silo and travel with a revolving movement in a circular path about the vertical axis 11 of the silo. The unloader 10 includes a frame 12 having a silage scraping conveyor 13 in communication with a blower 14 disposed at or adjacent one end of the frame and provided with a vertical outlet 15 which, in the instance shown, is spaced horizontally from the axis 11 so that when the unloader revolves in the silo, the outlet 15 travels in a circular path, as will be readily understood. The outlet 15 is equipped with a rotatable extension 16 provided at one side thereof With a horizontalpivot pin or shaft 17 which serves as a mount for the lower end of an upwardly extending, curved discharge duct 18 of a U-shaped cross-section, best shown in FIGURE 4. By virtue of this arrangement the duct 18 may be raised or lowered about the pivot pin 17 and may remain so that the upper or discharge end 18a thereof is oriented toward one of the usual openings 19 in the lateral wall 20 of the silo, while the unloader 10 is revolving on the silage.

'I'he invention concerns itself with the provision of guiding means for the duct 18 whereby the same remains oriented toward the opening 19 not only while it travels with the blower outlet toward and away from the opening during movement of the blower outlet in the aforementioned circular path, but also while the unloader, including the discharge duct, becomes progressively lowered in the silo as the silage is being unloaded.

These means comprise an elongated, longitudinally curved guide member 21 which, as is best shown in FIG- URE 2, is in the form of a U-shaped rod, having a pair of spaced side portions 21a which straddle the duct 18 and a bight portion 2lb provided with a screw-threaded coupling 22. A relatively short pipe or nipple 23 extends from the coupling 22 and carries an adapter 24 which is mounted for vertical and horizontal swinging movement on a suitable support member 25 provided in the opening 19. Thus, the guide member 21 may be raised and lowered about the pivot of the adapter 24 on the support member 25.

The guide means also include two pairs of grooved rollers 26, 27, rotatably mounted on studs 28 carried by a pair of straps or plates 29 which are suitably secured to opposite sides of the upper end portion of the duct 18 so that the side portions 21a of the member 21 pass between the rollers 26, 27, as shown, the rollers 26 engaging the top and the rollers 27 engaging the underside of the portions 21a. The rollers engage the portions 21a freely enough to prevent binding but closely enough for the member 21 to effectively control the orientation of the duct at various different positions of the duct relative to the member 21, as will be hereinafter apparent.

Thus, with lthe mechanism disposed as shown by the full lines in FIGURE l and the blower `outlet 15 on the side of the `axis 11 adjacent the opening 19, the engagement of the rollers 26, 27 with the guide member 21 is such that the discharge end 18a of the duct is directed toward the opening 19 for delivery of silage therethrough. When the unloader revolves through in thesilo so that the outlet 15 is disposed at the side of the axis 11 Y 3 remote r'rom the opening 19, as shown by the dotted lines in FIGUREv l, the member 2|1`is` swung upwardly about the pivot 25 while the rollers 26, 27 move downwardly along the portions 21a, and the outlet ISaof theduct 118 still remains oriented toward the opening 19,'as illustrated. Moreover,when the unlo-ader becomes lowered in the silo, for example, to the position shown in-FIG- URE 3, the ooaction between the guide member 21 and the'rollers 26, 27 is such that the duct 18 becomes raised and still remains directed toward the-silo opening. This raising of the duct gradually continues with the progressive loweringof the unloader in the silo, until a point is reached. where discharge through the opening 19 is discontinued and the apparatus rearranged for discharge through the next'lower opening, indicated at 19a. It will be also noted that since the extension 16 of the blower outletV moves horizontally toward and away from the silo wallf during revolving of the unloader, the horizontal distance ofV the extension ldfrom the wall opening 19 is greater when the device is in the dotted line position shown in FIGURE 1 than when in the position shown by full lines in the same ligure. The same also applies to the distance of the discharge end 18a of the duct I'18 from the opening 19, and since -silage discharged from the duct when in the dotted line position has further to travel to reach the opening 19 than it doesl when the duct is in the full line position, it is advantageous for the discharge end of the duct to be relatively raised when remote and relatively lowered when close to the silo opening, whereby silage discharged from the duct in its remote and raised position travels `a higher trajectory to properly reach the opening. This raising and lowering of the duct is facilitated and controlled bythe guide means 21, 26, 27, the curvature of the rod Z1 being such-that the discharge endi18a of the duct 18 is raised when remote from the opening-19 and lowered when close tothe opening, as will be apparent from a comparison of the full line and dotted line illustrations in FIGURE 1.

Resilient means are provided for biasing the duct 18 to its raised positiomthese means comprising a pair of invented` cup-shaped sockets or seat 30 which, as is best shown in FIGURE 8, are provided with laterally projecting, screw-threaded studs 31 pivoted in a pair ot straps 32. The latter are welded or otherwise secured to opposite sides of the lower end portion of the duct 18 and also carry the aforementionedpivot pin or shaft 17. The pin or shaft 17 is journalled in `a .tubular bearing 33 carried by an `angle bracket `or plate 34 which, in turn, is welded or otherwise secured tothe extension 16 of the outlet 15. The sockets 30 accommodate a pair of compression springs 35 which bear against the plate 34, thus urging the Iduct 18 to its raised position. The lower ends ofthe springs 35. engage upstanding pins 36 provided on the plate 34, wherebydisplacement of the springs is prevented;

lt will'be understood that the aforementioned pipe or nippleJZS is removably connected -to the socket or coupling 22 andro-the adapter 24, so that it may be removed and substituted byanother pipe or nipple of l.a different length,- if'necessarto accommodate silos of different diameters. t FIGURE 9Y illustrates a slightly modied' embodiment ot the invention whereinthe guide member 40,' corresponding to the aforementionedmember 21, is in the form of asinglefcurved rod, engaged by and passing between a' pair. of rollers 41., 42 mounted in 'suitable brackets 43 and 44 which are axed to the duct 18. As such, the rod 40 and brackets 43, y44 may -bel 'sposed at the top of the duct as shown,- or at one'side ofthe duct, if so preferred. Ineither event, the connection ofV the member 40-to the silo and-operation of this embodiment are the same as' alreadyedescr-ibed.

V4While in the 'foregoing there have been described and shown Vthepreferred embodiments of the invention, various modicationsmay become vapparent to those skilled in' the towhich'th'e invention relates. Accordingly, it not desredtolimit the invention to'this disclosure and ci. various modifications may be resorted to, such as may lie within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is: i

l. The combination of a silo having a lateral wall provided with an opening, asilage unloader positioned in said silo for revolving movement therein, said unloader being adapted tofrest upon a-nd operatively 'engage sila-ge inthe silo and includingY a silagefblower having an outlet ottset horizontally from the center of the silo whereby said outlet travels-in a circular path horizontaally toward and away from said opening during .revolvingof the uploader, an upwardly extending curved discharge duct movably connected at its 'lower end to the outlet of said blower for revolving movementof the 'unloader relative to the duct and 'for swinging ymovement'of the duct ina vertical plane -relativeto the unloader, the upper end constituting the dis-charge end of the duct also moving toward and away from the silo opening during revolvingof the unloader, and guide means connected/tothe silo wall and cooperating with saidduct for respectively raising and lowering the discharge end thereof during its movement away from and toward said opening, whereby to maintain the trajectory of silage discharged from the duct constantly oriented through said opening. Y

2. The combination as deiined in claim 1 wherein said guide means include an elongated curvedV guide member ,and pivot means connecting said one end of said guide member to said lateral wall, said guide member being movable in a vertical plane about said pivot means.

3. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said guide means a curved rod pivoted to said silo wall, and a pair of rollers carried by said duct and engagingl said; rod at diametrically opposite sides of the latter.

4. The device as defined in claim 1 together with rei silient meanscoacting with said blower and with said duct for urging theduct to a raised position.

5: The combination of a silage unloader adapted tobe positioned-in .a silo for revolving movement therein while resting upon. and operatively engaging silage-in the silo, said unloader including a blower having an eccentrically offset outlet spaced horizontally from thecenter ot the silo whereby said outlet travels in a circular pathduring revolving of the umoader, an upwardly extending curved discharge yduct movably connected `at its lower end to the Y outlet of said blower for revolving movementV of the unloader relative'to the duct andfor swinging movement of the duct in a vertical plane relative to the unloader, the upper endv constituting the discharge end of said duct moving horizontally toward andaway from 'anopening in the silo during revolving of the unloader, and-guide means adapted to beconnected to the silo and cooperating'with said duct for respectively'raising and lowering the discharge end thereof .during its movement awayA from and toward/the statedsilo opening, whereby to maintain the trajectory ofsilage dischargedfrom the duct constantly orientedfthrough the stated opening.

6. The device as defined in claim 5 wherein said guide means include anelongated curved guide member adapted tofbe-.pivoted at one. end thereon? to the silo, and a pair of rollers carried byv said duct and engagingsaid guidef member diametrioally. opposite. sides yintermediate the ends of the latter;

7.` The device as deinedinclaim 5 togetherwithresilientmeans coaoting with said hlowerand with saidduct for urging the duct to its-raised position.- Y

Y 8; The combinationof asilo having` alateralfwall providedwithan opening, ta-silage-unloader positionedV in said silo for both revolving and lowering movementtherein, saidunloader. being-adapted to rest upon iand operatively engage` silage in-the silo and-including a silage conveyor, a blower at one end of said conveyor having an outlet and @way ffrom said opening during revolving of the. un-

J loader, an upwardly extending curved discharge duct movably connected at its lower end to the outlet of said blower for revolving movement of the unloader relative to the duot and for swinging movement of the duct in a vertical plane relative to the unloader, the upper end constituting the discharge end of the duct also moving toward and away from the silo opening during revolving of the nnloader, and guide means connected to the silo Wall and cooperating with said duct for respectively raising and lowering the disoharge end thereof during its movement away from and toward said opening whereby to maintain the trajectory of sillage discharged from the duot oonstantly oriented through said opening, said guide means comprising an elongated guide member disposed adjacent said duet, pivot means connecting one end of said guide 15 2,877,907

member to said silo wall for swinging movement in a vertical plane, a pair of rollers provided on said duct and engaging said guide member at opposite sides intermediarte the ends of the latter, and' resilient means coacting with said blower and with said duct for urging the same to its raised position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,580,306 Leach Dec. 25, 1951 2,595,333 Clapp May 6, 1952 2,678,241 Miller May 11, 1954 2,788,247 Chapman Apr. 9, 1957 -Bushbom Mar. 17, 1959 

